TOUGH BEAGLE WEEKEND... and knowing what partnership means....

Well it was a tough weekend. My newest beagle, Zach, adopted last Labor Day weekend from an animal shelter in the KC area, vomited early Thursday morning and basically went downhill into the weekend. He went from hisjack in the box, energizer bunny self to my carrying him in and out. After conferences with the vet beginning Friday, he went in to stay late yesterday afternoon.

After an x ray (which showed he had been shot with "buckshot" prior to his stay at the shelter) and a number of tests, its been found that Zach has Addisons disease, which causes things like potassium and sodium levels to go crazy, electrolytes to drop and basically his system, his kidneys and potentially his heart, to respond in an incorrect way. Nothing like seeing your 18 month old beagle out of it, with tubes inserted. It looks like he's going to be fine after at least another night at the Vet clinic. I even had a conversation with the Parkville folks (the animal shelter) about what he's gone through. He will be on medication, including a monthly booster shot for the rest of his life.

My partner of 11 years, Will, was encouraged when I adopted Zach and has always been supportive. He stayed after I had to leave the vet clinic yesterday (as I had a Board meeting) and has monitored progress today.I called the clinic a few minutes ago and was told that Will had already paid $300.00 toward the vet bill.... I never asked, he just did it. When I quizzed him about it, he said, "this was a decison we made together and this little guy deserves the best possible life we can give him".

wow...so sorry to hear about him...but glad to hear that he will be ok....its like seeing one of our kids sick...never easyyou're blessed to have your partner so supportive and with you...hang in there and take good care of those beagles...i truly know how special a beagle can be......

I'm very sorry that you, Will and Zach had to go through the weekend's trauma.

But it looks like a lot of good has come out of a bad situation: Zach can now get the medical treatment he needs and will likely bounce quickly once his Addison's Disease is under control; and you have been reminded of how great your partner is.

Kudos all around - to you for adopting Zach and looking after him so well, to your vet for the quick diagnosis and to Will for being there for both you Zach. Zach is incredibly lucky to have landed in a home like yours. And I'll bet you and Will feel very lucky to have Zach as well.

I appreciate the input and good wishes. It sounds like Zach is up and eating and will come home today (Tues). Glad all looks to be improving and while expensive, Zach is going to be OK and I was reminded how lucky I am.

You could tell Buddy and Mia were also looking for the little guy.....

HndsmKansan saidI appreciate the input and good wishes. It sounds like Zach is up and eating and will come home today (Tues). Glad all looks to be improving and while expensive, Zach is going to be OK and I was reminded how lucky I am.

You could tell Buddy and Mia were also looking for the little guy.....

Chris,As I was reading your post my heart started to break. I was dreading what was coming. But as I continued to read I was so very happy and pleasantly surprised to hear of Zach's improvement. As you may or may not know, my partner of 11 yrs and I just lost our "boy" Trouble. Through that awful gut wrenching tragedy we both saw in each other "what partnership means."

There's a quote that I recently posted on another thread, and is also on my profile page. If ever there was a place for it, it's here and now.

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

You and your partner proved this wonderful quote to be so very true!!!

I can not begin to tell you how happy I am to hear about Zach. He is as lucky to have you and your partner, as you two are lucky enough to have him!!With warmest of regards,Keith